Ask a Producer Q&A
While I’ve been writing stories since elementary school, I didn’t go to school for the craft. This means I learn the nuances of submitting on the fly.
As you will read in every advice column and Reddit post about how to find a home for your work, a big part of this industry is luck and networking. I was lucky to have a former college classmate introduce me to Rick Troxel of Dragonfly Bay Productions. Through networking with Rick, my friend and I were able to option a screenplay with Dragonfly Bay and I’ve also optioned one of my own.
With the goal of sharing some insight for any writers looking to break through the noise, I asked Rick, who has been making movies for more than a decade, some questions about screenwriting, filmmaking and what makes a script stand out to him.
Cam: What’s the most important part of a successful script in your experience?
Rick: The main element I look for in a script is its structure. Movie audiences are conditioned for the three act structure and a film will leave them feeling unsatisfied and disappointed if it's missing.
Cam: The adage is a writer has one page to set the hook, how accurate is that?
Rick: Very accurate in this age of click-bait and shorten attention spans. Your logline has to sell me before Page One of the script comes into play. Loglines are your chance to show me, the producer, your writing skills in a few sentences. Too many beginning writers don't take the time to craft a compelling one.
“Your script is not the one that ends up on the movie screen”
Cam: Writers, speaking from experience, will tinker forever on projects. Is there a point when we should take hands off the keyboard so to speak?
Rick: In my opinion and experience, your script is not the one that ends up on the movie screen. They are usually two VERY different stories. At some point you have to stop tinkering and get your script out there.
Cam: Regardless of genre, what are the marks of a good script?
Rick: I am attracted to interesting characters and good dialog. Many of the scripts I reject go into too much detail about setting, atmosphere, etc. Film is a visual medium and it's the director’s vision that usually decides those things.
Cam: Have you ever written scripts of your own?
Rick: Yes, and they were terrible. In fairness, I only wrote the two short films to help me learn the filmmaking process. Both shorts ended up film festivals (out of state) so they weren't totally unwatchable.
Cam: A hot topic on writing boards and communities is Artificial Intelligence. How is AI factoring into production in the independent film scene?
Rick: As a small indie producer, AI has given me access to create professional looking storyboards and create VFX scenes. The AI landscape changes weekly and I see its growth potential comparable to the DSLR camera revolution. It's NOT meant to replace the creative process, but to assist and expedite the production process.
Learn more about Dragonfly Bay Productions and Rick at their website.
